Electrical connection



p 9, i935 c. H. REYNQLDS ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Aug. 1.0, 1951 'aven/072 @M if WM (53%@ 545W@ Patented Apr. 9, 1935 "PATENT ELECTRICAL ooNruic'rIoNA Charles H. Reynolds, Malden, Mass., assigner 'to Albert & J. M. Anderson Manufacturing C'ompany, South Boston, Mass., -a corporation lor Massachusetts n,

Application August 1o, 1931, serial No. 556,141

'i This invention relates to an electrical connec-` tion vinv which a movable blade or contactr member co-operates with one or more pairs of clips or contact members between which the blade is moved to eiect theelectri'cal connection desired.

- The invention has for one of its objects to provide means whereby the pair of contacts or clips maybe movedbodily as a unit by the movable blade from a position out of alignment with the pathof movement off the movable blade or contact 'member into the said path, soas to enable thepair of contact members and the movable bladefto bemounted upon separate supporting members and ensure the contact members of the pairlmaking equally good and substantially uniform contact' 'with the movable blade and thereby overcome ydefects inthe apparatus `due to nonalignment of the co-operating contact members when their separate supporting members are arranged in4 operative relation. l '1 f' `l lThe invention alsohas for'its object to provide meanswhereby distortion `or irregularities in the shapey of the blade or movable contact member maybe compensated for y.so-as to enable the pair of 'fcontact -members to automatically adjust themselves to the shape of thel blade and thereby assist the aligning element ineffecting asuperior and uniform engagement of the movable blade with theV pair of contact members co-operating therewith. I f f --With these objects in'fview and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention'consists in theelectrical connections and-switches and in the various structures, arrangements and combina- 35 tions cfa-parts hereinafter `described and particularly defined at the end of this specication. In the drawing illustratingthe preferred ern'- bodiment ofthe invention: I

1 isa sideelevation of a sufficient portion 4 0' of the -hightension disconnecting switch embody-ving the present invention to enablethe invention tobeunderstood; Y y Fig. 2, a view partly in section and partlyin end'elevation taken'cn the line 2-42 of Fig. 3,'

Fig. 3, a side elevation of thecontacting clips and their supporting mechanism; Fig. 4, a sectional View on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; andn z Fig. 5, a sectional detail taken on the line' 545 of'liig.3. M

In; general the present invention contemplates an`electrical connection comprising two contacting `members relatively movableinto and outrof engagement. -Provision is made fory mounting one of the contact members in'anovel and ime claimsl (c1. 20o- 466) proved manner to permit it to align itself automatically with the other contactV member.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment Yof the invention the electrical connection is vshown member and a self-aligning contact member with which the switchmemberco-operates tovclose a circuit. Theself-aligning contactmember may and preferably will comprise one or more pairs of co-'operating contacts or clips slidably mounted upon a supporting memberto be capable of being automatically and bodily moved inr a direction transverse to the plane of the movable switch member! to the end that when themovable'switch member is out of alignment for any reason and approaches and engages the clips as `it is-about to pass between them,

the clipsare bodily moved into-a position in alignment with the lmovable switch ;member. Prov ision is also made foren?.

yabling the clips to align themselves automatinection and which as herein shown comprise a movable, switchmember .I 0 and a coioperating set ofi sekt-aligning clips I2. I0 is herein show-nas pivoted ofy being swungon its The switch member at |40 to be capable pivot tov-and from circuit-Y closingposition. The self-aligning clips. indicated generallyat I2 are herein shown ascomas comprising l'a switch'having a movable switch -5 prising two sets of clipsI4, I6, and-I8,` 20, the individual.- pairs of which oo -cperate with the movable switch memberIO when the latter has been moved :down into a position between each pair of clips. The upper surfaces Yof the individualclips are inclined outwardly from a center line and are preferably provided with hardened metallic; bearing plates '2 2 *securedV vidual clips,as shown.

byscrews 24 to the indi- The inclined surfaces of theplates 22 constitute cam surfaces which are adapted to i be engaged by th'elmovable switch member* lwhen the latter is vmoved into circuit: closing position and is for any reason. out ofalign`-l mentwith the center line 25. y

Provision isl made Aforfoperatively supporting the individual clips Ill,` I6, I8 and 20 upon a supportr26 in 'a manner such as to permit ythe clips to be free to slide asa unit in a direction trans:-

verse to the planev of switcl'member, so tha approaches toA pass betw to beV displaced from vthe center 1ine25 irrespecmovement of they movable t Vwhen the switch member een the clipsand happens nection between each'clip and the said carriage to thereby permit said contact clips to be turned with relation to saidrcarriage and align themselves automatically and to be bodily movable with said carriage into alignment with the aforesaid second contact member. l

3. In an electrical connection, in combination, a pair of cooperating spring-pressed contact clips adapted to receive a second contact member between them, a support, a carriage mounted tobe capable of movement in a transverse direction upon said support, and means for operatively supporting the contact clips upon said carriage to move with the latter as a unit said means including universal joints between the contact clips and said carriage.

4. In an electrical c,onnection,in combination, a. pair of cooperating Acontact clips, a supporting member, an intermediate carriage slidably mounted upon the supporting member, springs secured to said intermediate carriage and said contact clips for mounting the contact clips upon said 'carriage to slide therewith, flexible leads connecting said clips and said supporting member, and universal joint connections between the f said supporting springs and said clips to thereby permit said contact clips to swivel in two planes and to be moved bodily with said carriage in a direction transversely of the contacting faces of said clips.

5. In an electrical connection, in combination, a movable blade, contact clips with which said movable blade co-operates to enter between the same andmake contact therewith, a Vmovable carriage, means for securing said contact clips to said carriage to move therewith as a unit, a stationary supporting member for said carriage having arms spaced apart and shafts carried by said arms upon which said carriage is slidably mounted to enable said carriage and both of the contact clips carried thereby to be bodily moved as a unit on said shafts by the engagement of said blade with either of said contact clips, when the latter are normally out of alignment with the path of movement of said blade.

6.A In an electrical connection, in combination,

a movable blade, contact clipsv with which said movable blade co-operatesto enter between the same and make contact therewith, a movablek carriage, means for securing said contact clips to said carriage to move therewith as a unit, s aid means including a swivel joint for eachcontact clip, a supporting member forr said carriage having arms spaced apart and shafts carriedby said arms upon which'said carriage is slidably mounted to enable said carriage' and both of the contact clips carried thereby tov be bodily ,moved as a unit on said shafts by the engagement of said blade with either of said contact clips, when the latter are normally out of alignment with the path Y.

of movement of said blade. Y

CHARLES H. REYNOLDS. 

